ABSTRACT
The essential difference between this book and other books on research methodology is a focus on methodological advances in a specific area within research on education, namely Educational Effectiveness Research (EER). Thus, this introductory chapter offers a background to EER and helps readers recognize the importance of the progress that has been made in research methodology for this field. This chapter also seeks to enable EER researchers to identify ways of making use of advanced research methods that will further promote the development of this field. At the same time, this chapter also provides readers who are more generally interested in research methodology with a brief account of the background to EER in order to help them understand the specific context in which advanced research methods can be applied and so contribute to the ongoing development of this field.
